Monday, October 7, 2013

Banning "Conversion Therapy" in Ohio

“If they are already questioning their sexuality, we don’t want them to think there is something
wrong with them that needs to be fixed,” Sen. Charleta Tavares said.

California banned sexual-orientation therapy last year for anyone younger than 18. In August,
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, signed a similar law. Tavares said her bill more
closely mirrors the New Jersey law, leaving penalties up to professional licensing boards.

She said it is an issue that she and her Democratic colleagues thought they needed to be more
proactive in addressing, noting the higher rates of suicide among gays. She said she does not know
whether so-called conversion therapy is used much in Ohio, but she said that even if it’s rare, the
bill still sends a message.